The Daddy Decision Read Free Page A

of the Hays Street gang.
    She looked soft, feminine and vulnerable.
    He had no damn business being there.
    Cort couldn’t quite summon a smile, but he managed a nod. “Laura.”
    A faint flush rose in her cheeks. “Cort.”
    â€œGood to see you again.” He politely extended his hand, more out of habit than anything.
    She glanced at it. After a tense pause, she slowly extended hers. “Good to see you, too.”
    They clasped hands.
    But her hesitation had thrown him. Logically, he understood why she might hold a grudge and hesitate to acknowledge him. Logically, he knew he deserved it. On some other level, though, he reeled from the blow. She’d never resisted touching him before. Physical contact between them had always been freer than the air they’d breathed.
    His sense of loss stunned him. How could he feel a loss now when he hadn’t seen the woman in fifteen years? Hadn’t touched her in all that time. Or held her. Not even once.
    She’d hugged everyone tonight except him.
    The feel of her hand clasped in his helped Cort regain his equilibrium. She had, after all, only hesitated to shake his hand. She hadn’t refused. Her palm settled against his
in a warm, cozy fit. Her skin felt pleasingly soft and petal-smooth; her grip firm and responsive.
    The contrasts had always stirred him, he remembered: her soft femininity, her surprising strength. Her occasional shyness; her propensity for sensual indulgence. Slow, savoring indulgence, at that...
    Memories swamped him, and he involuntarily tightened his grip. The light honey-gold of her skin against the dark bronze of his brought back flashes too visceral to be considered memories. He felt her pulse accelerate to a strong, vibrant rhythm. Ah, he remembered that rhythm. His body remembered.
    She withdrew her hand, her color becomingly high. “I...I’m glad you got the chance to join us.” She smiled, but he recognized the effort behind it. He noticed the stiffness of her posture and the slight elevation of her chin. “I’m sure Steffie’s thrilled that you’re here.”
    â€œYou know I am!” His petite, vivacious sister stepped in between them and hooked her arms around their shoulders, forcing them into a rather awkward huddle. “You are two of the nearest, dearest people in my life,” she said fervently. “I love you guys.” She kissed Cort’s cheek with a loud smack, then did the same to Laura’s. “Nothing makes me happier than to have you both here.”
    At such close proximity and with Steffie’s shining gaze shifting between them, they had little choice but to meet each other’s gazes in a show of affability.
    But Cort read the uneasiness in Laura’s eyes.
    He couldn’t help a small, rueful smile. Mending their rift wouldn’t be nearly as easy as his Pollyanna sister obviously hoped. But, what the hell. He was willing to give it a try.
    For Steffie’s sake.
    She clearly wanted them to acknowledge their reconciliation
in some way—with words, or a hug. He wasn’t opposed to a hug. A brief, casual, token hug.
    In a tactically brilliant move, though, Laura circumvented it. “Oh, Steffie, you know we love you , too! And I’m very happy to be here.” She kissed Steffie’s cheek and hugged her, effectively cutting Cort out of the intimate circle.
    â€œNow,” Laura said as she drew away, “is there anything I can do to help you get ready for tomorrow, Stef? Any celery or onions to chop, pies to bake, or turkeys to, uh, pluck?”
    â€œNo,” Steffie replied, clearly disappointed by the less-than-satisfying results of her mediation attempt. “Everything’s ready for tomorrow.”
    â€œOh. Good. Well, then, if you’ll excuse me...” her smile graciously included Cort “...I can’t wait another minute to see my little godson again.” Her smile grew dazzling as she turned